June 01, 2004

It's not a matter of feeling, it's a matter of understanding the song. Why it was written. Who wrote it. How it was meant to be performed.

All of those on stage, while talented, have little or no clue what the music is. They see notes, lyrics, and can assemble them in a pleasing way, but they'll never understand them unless they roll up their sleeves and actually get into the tune. Few young performers do these days, which is why most of them end up Britney Spears knockoffs.

Same thing happens in the performing world. Some people read the script and do what the director says, but never take the time to understand the person they're supposed to be playing. It's the difference between a good performer and a great one, and the same holds true for musicians. It's also usually the reason that most young artists suck. Can't understand life when you haven't lived any of it yet.

Rob........posted on wrong post before. If singer hasn't lived it, no way in hell can they convey that to the listener. I can see right through the lie in their voice.....it's too slick.
Too many are performance artists and not artists of a craft they have busted their ass to get a hold on.
I've never put stock into what the "experts" have said is the best of this or that, whatever the media being highlighted. If I read a review of a movie and the critic slammed it, it's on my must-see list most of the time.
I listen to not only the words, but if the singer feels the words issueing forth, I can feel the message in them.
The story is only as good as the story teller.
I'm always up for a good story.

Storyteller doesn't have to live the story to feel it.

Professional voice training reduces art to math, sadly.

Only two people I ever heard sing that song and do it justice is Patsy Cline and Willie. Everybody else is just a piker trying to imitate it.
That song comes from the heart, not the vocal cords. Otherwise Willie would never be able to pull it off. But, then again, he WROTE it.
Makes sense to me.

I listen to the Star-Spangled Banner by "vocal artists".
Goosebumps and raised hair on my forearms are the criteria.
Some can do it, most can not.
Here in AZ, we have a trumpet player that does it every time.
That man can PLAY.

Coulda swore I read somewhere that Patsy Cline herself didn't like the song and was tricked into recording it... producer told Cline her contract would be dropped if she didn't do the song (wasn't true, but it worked).  Something like that.